Newsletter July Aug 09

The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Issue No. 39 This is the 12th article in the series ‘Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas (Who is a Khalsa?)’, started in Apr 2008.]

Krodh – Anger One of the Five Vices By Jaswant Singh

Krodh (Anger) is another weakness of the mortal, which deprives him of spiritual peace. It is a fiery emotion that makes one fret, fume, and burst. Anger is born out of ego, envy, and jealousy. Actually, it is a sign of one’s weakness. Anger is the real lowly (mean) emotion, which dwells in the body but due to utter ignorance, one does not understand it. 1 Anger is one of the causes of day-to-day family/society discords and disputes, which results in the form of mental, verbal, or physical abuse/violence. It can lead one to suicide or can incite one to kill others. Explaining its wickedness the Sikh Scripture describes: O root of conflict, anger! Compassion never rises up in them who are controlled by you. You fill the people with poison in such a way that they dance like monkeys in fury. Associating with you, mortals behave wickedly and therefore are punished in so many ways. 2 Anger harms the mortals in many ways. It produces various toxic substances in the body. It causes intolerable tension in the veins of the body which results in various ailments like blood pressure, headache etc. Anger of a breast-feeding mother makes it difficult for a child to digest her milk. Anger degrades a man. It starts with madness and ends in shame. Family, friends and even society don’t like an irate or short-tempered person. It is not caste which makes one low caste or outcaste, it one’s vices that lowers one’s dignity. The Sikh Scripture calls outcaste those who are filled with the vices, and warns one to avoid the company of such furious people: Do not meet with, or approach those, whose hearts are filled with outcaste anger. 3

July/August 2009 Inside this issue: 2 Highlights of Barsi Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Malacca Simran At Esplanade Guru Arjan Dev Ji `Sheedi Gurpurab’ 3 Mighty Khalsa Outing Kaar Sewa 4 New Sikhi Programme 5 New Education Programme 6 Lion in Body and Spirit Santhia Class For Ladies Santhia Class For Adults 7 Bhai Maharaj Singh Anniversary Birthday Celebration Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji Renovation & Upgrading 8 Programme Movie Of The Month Book Of The Month

Objectives:

It is the vices, which makes a man impure. So, without taming one’s vices one cannot be purified. Emphasizing upon this fact the Sikh Scripture states: He alone is pure, who sheds his anger, and comprehending the Guru’s Word refines himself. 4

• To promote the awareness of Sikh Heritage.

In the coming article, we will discuss ‘Lobh’ (Greed), another vice.

• To organise and promote the learning of Gurbani and kirtan.

References: 1.

bsie kroDu srIir cMfwrw ] AigAwin n sUJY mhw gubwrw ]3] (759)

2.



hy kil mUl k®oDM kdMc kruxw n auprjqy ] ibKXMq jIvM vs´M kroiq inrq´M kroiq jQw mrkth ] Aink swsn qwVMiq jmdUqh qv sMgy ADmM nrh ] (1358)

3.

Enw pwis duAwis n iBtIAY ijn AMqir k®oDu cMfwl ] (40)

4.

so sUcw ij kroDu invwry ] sbdy bUJY Awpu svwry ] (1059)

• To meet the needs of the Sikh Community.

• To lead the Sangat to become and remain Amrit Dhari Sikhs. • To propagate Sikhism by providing quality religious services. • To create awareness and inculcate the practice of the Sikh way of life.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

38th Barsi Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Malacca Kirtan by Surinder Singh Ji (Mitha Tiwana Sri Amritsar Wale) @ Central Sikh Temple This was the first time Central Sikh Temple held the Barsi of Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji. As the Barsi coincided with the one held at Malacca, the attendance of the sangat was not as good as expected. Central Sikh Temple will continue to hold this programme annually and it is hoped that with better publicity and awareness, there will be a better turn out by the sangat in the future. Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji

Bhai Surinder Singh Ji

An Excellent Performance of Simran by the Seaside (Esplanade) If you enjoy simran, and did not attend the Simran by the Seaside on 2nd May 2009 at the Open Air Pavilion, Esplanade then you have missed a beautiful and mesmerising Simran performance. The organiser of “A Tapestry of Sacred Music” Miss Yati, commented a few weeks later that, “it was a spiritually up lifting experience and we are still talking about it”. It was performed by the Gurmat Sangeet Academy students of the Sikh Centre led by Master Satnam Singh and accompanied by the Kirtan Jatha led by Bhai Dilbagh Singh of Silat Road Sikh Temple. The packed audience gave a resounding applause in recognition of their excellent performance. Central Sikh Gurdwara Board congratulates the SIMRAN group Simran Group for their fine performance at the Esplanade.

Highlights of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shaheedi Gurpurab @ Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road Kirtan by Bhai Arvinder Pal Singh Ji (Barmulla wale) – The sangat was very pleased with the kirtan done by Bhai Arvinderpal Singh Ji’s Jatha, who had specially come from India to perform for the Singapore sangat. Sukhmani Sahib Larhi- Saturday 13th June 9am to 6pm - The Ladies groups from the various Sikh Institutions did Sukhmani Sahib Paath continuously for 9 hours in support of the event.

Ladies Group

Sheabeel Distribution – Saturday 13th June 10am to 5pm – Our Langgar Sewadar Mr. Pritam Singh and some volunteers distributed Sheabeel to the sangat. The Sheabeel was very well received by the sangat, who enjoyed drinking it.

Bhai Arvinder Pal Singh

APC Visit – The APC Visit was on 14th June 2009. There were 7 volunteers, who brought guests to the Gurdwara. The visit was Mr Pritam Singh (extreme left) very well organised and supported by many volunteers from the Gurdwara. The visitors were given blankets when they left the Gurdwara. Sukhmani Sahib CD – A total of 800 CD’s of the Sukhmani Sahib Paath done in Kirtan were distributed over the 3 days’ programme.

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Mighty Khalsa - Pasir Ris Park Two bus load of children and their parents went to Pasir Ris Park on 30th May 2009. This is to what the children had to say about the outing. With the holidays round the corner my earnest wish was to spend time in a fun way with my “Mighty” friends. My wish was fulfilled, when we came to know about our outing to Pasir Ris Park. We had so much fun............there’s the proof in the picture - Balraj My mother brought two buckets and two sponges. When we reached the Gurdwara my mother put some soap and water in the two buckets. Then my brother and I started to wash the chairs with some other children. We did some sewa too before going for the outing - Bigaas We had a game of “Tug-of-war”. The boys kept losing because they were outnumbered - Brahmpreet When we alighted from the bus, the parents organized us into groups. All of us walked to the playground. We played the slide and it was very fun - Amanrosh We had french fries, spring rolls and many other delicious food. The parents gave us apple juice. “Gurrrrr!” Our stomachs grumbled. We were starving. Luckily, it was lunch time. We had our lunch for an hour and the best dish was the ice-cream. The exciting part was when we had to crack the big, hard, giant water melon and eat it. Our group did not win but at least we enjoyed ourselves. - Roshini

KAAR SEWA gur kI syvw cwkrI

mnu inrmlu suKu hoie

Since July 2007, a small group of bleary eyed Sewa enthusiasts meet as early as 4 am every Saturday at the Silat Road Gurdwara to wash, scrub, mop, wipe and vacuum its premises. What started out as a family affair has gained momentum and garnered other members of the community. As the sewadars go about their cleaning routine, a sense of camaraderie comes through. New friendships have been formed and there is also a strong feeling of interconnectedness and bonding. The members of the group did not know one another well prior to the kaar sewa sessions and were roped in through appeals made by some of the more regular sewadars. There are about ten regular sewadars now and there are ‘seasonal’ members, mainly comprising of children, who are usually on school vacation. However, with families travelling during school vacations, the numbers dwindle but the cleaning mission does not stop. With fewer members less is accomplished but there is still a sense of satisfaction of having done something versus nothing at all. The bleary eyed group hopes the numbers amongst them will continue to grow. It is difficult in the beginning, getting off from bed at such an early hour but once the mind is set on the mission, it is really easy. The cleaning stop at around six in the morning but the camaraderie continues over a cup of hot tea and toasted bread. Come and join the group on Saturday mornings and you might just get hooked! All are Welcome.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

New Sikhi Programmes Sikhism 101 (Now in Punjabi) A Comprehensive course on Sikhism covering History, Religion, Philosophy & Scripture The Lives and Teachings of Our Ten Gurus Biographies of the Sikh Martyrs Main Composition of Guru Granth Sahib Basic Concepts of Sikhism Starting on 1st July 2009, Every Wednesday, 11am to 12:30pm Level 3, Central Sikh Temple, Fee—$50 Per Year (inclusive of course materials & books)

Paath Class for Kids

5 - 7 years & 8 - 12 years

Enlighten / Enrich Your Children through a Specially Designed Programme Focus : Learning Paath, Imparting Sikhi Values, Listening to Interesting Sakhiyan Starting on 4th July 2009, Every Saturday, 1:45pm to 2:30pm Level 4, Sikh Centre, Free Course

2 x Basic Paath Courses

(For Adults)

Invest some of your time and uplift yourself spiritually by learning Gurbani Paath Join our Paath Course and learn the basics of reading the Paath correctly and fluently 1st Course : Starting on 3rd July 09, Every Friday, 7pm to 8pm 2nd Course : Starting on 4th July 09, Every Saturday, 2:30pm to 3:30pm Level 4, Sikh Centre. Both Courses - 8 Sessions each, Free Course

Learn Gurmukhi

(Punjabi)

Learn to Read & Write Punjabi Starting on 5th July, Every Sunday, 4:30pm to 5:30pm Level 6, Sikh Centre, Commitment Fee - $10, 8 Sessions

By Jaswant Singh, M.A.- Religious Studies

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New Educational Programmes Special ‘O’ Level English Tuition Don’t delay, register now O’ Level Class Feedback Narwin Singh & Jaswin Kaur - The lessons are good and they have taught us how to write a good composition. We have also learnt about the importance of education and our knowledge of English has improved even though it has been only a few lessons. Gurvinder Kaur – These lessons have instilled in me the knowledge of how to write better essays and score well in comprehension and summary.

Phonics 4 Kids ( K1 & K2) New Classes in July See your child excel in all areas of learning by developing their ability and love for reading? Starting on 5 July 09, Every Sun, 11am to 12pm Level 6, Fee: $35, 8 Sessions

English & Math’s An opportunity for P 1, P2 & P 3 students to receive extra coaching in their school work. This programme helps to instill motivation, confidence & determination into their learning. New Session in July P 1 (English & Math) P 2 (English & Math) P 3 (English) P 4 (English) P 6 (English & Math)

Every Sun, Every Sun, Every Sun, Every Sun, Every Sat,

12pm to 1:30pm, Level 6, 1:30pm to 3pm, Level 6, 12pm to 1:30pm, Level 6, 1:30pm to 3pm, Level 6, 2:30pm to 4:30pm, Level 6,

Fee: $50, 8 Sessions Fee: $50, 8 Sessions Fee: $50, 8 Sessions Fee: $50, 8 Sessions Fee: $10, 8 Sessions

Bhangra Class 4 Kids Channel your energy right into the heart of Punjabi heritage & culture, in a fun & energetic setting On Going Class Ever Sat, 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Level 5, Fee: $80, 8 Sessions

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

Lion in Body and Spirit Zero Limits Icy winds, steep hills and rough terrain were what Jasbir Singh, a 23 years old SMU student, braved when he embarked on an epic journey of endurance, strength and spirituality spanning 20000km. On Monday 7th July 2008, Jasbir left for Anchorage with his 7 teammates from SMU amidst much excitement as part of a cycling expedition across Alaska. Jasbir says, “Every morning he recited the Jaap Sahib, for his safety and strength throughout the daily 100 kilometres. There is spiritual science to the bani. The prayer invokes a personal faith that I needed with me throughout the day. It was really the bani that got me through the tough moments. I would find myself Jasbir - Reciting the Jaap Sahib chanting ‘Gobinday Mukande …’ As a Sikh, Jasbir stood out from the crowd and he was picked to lead the team. His expedition leader, James Ng mentions “the team looked to Jasbir for motivation when it got cold and tough. Bryant Teo, the assistant expedition leader said “ the team learned a great deal about Sikh religion and culture from Jasbir, and many Sikh values were rubbed on to the team members” The Sikh community congratulates Jasbir for being a model Sikh to his team.

Santhia class for Ladies

Mdm Avtar Kaur (centre first row)

Mdm Avatar Kaur conducts the Santhia class every Saturday from 12 noon to 4 pm at level 4, Sikh Centre. She has been teaching for the past 4 years and currently 25 ladies are attending her class. In addition, Simran is done followed by the Chaupai Paath. For Vesakhi and Guru Nanak’s Birthday, the ladies completed a Sehaj Paath.

All Sikh ladies who are keen to learn Paath/ Bani should join this class as it starts from the very basic level onwards and advances to the recitation of the Vol 1 & Vol 2 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Santhiya Class for Adults Gurmat Santhiya class is conducted every Saturday between 4pm to 6pm. The teacher Sardar Gurbakhsh Singh Grewal has vast knowledge of the Gurbani and Sikh religion. The objective of the Santhiya class is to learn to read and understand the Gurbani correctly. Difficult words are explained and this aids in the understanding of the Shabad being studied. Students are encouraged to bring up any issues or doubts related to Sikh religion so that logical explanations can be given. It is hoped that the discussion, during the class, will encourage the participants to live a meaningful Sikhi way of life. Any interested person is welcome to join the class. It is free of charge.

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Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji 153rd Anniversary Celebrations @ Silat Road Sikh Temple Akhand Path Arambh—Friday, 3rd July Akhand Path da Bhog—Sunday, 5th July Kirtan By Naranjan Singh Ji—28th June to 5 July Special Kirtan Darbar—Thursday, 2nd July (Evening) Kirtan By Various Jathas—Saturday, 4th July (Whole Day) Visit to Mei Ling Street Home Sunday, 12th July Nishan Sahib Salami Sunday, 5th July

Blood Donation Saturday, 4th July

BMS Inter Gurdwara Golf Friday, 24th July (Sembawang)

Children’s Party Saturday, 4th July

Birthday Celebration Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji “Sri Harkrishan Dheyaie Jis Dithe Sabh Dukh Jaye”   at Central Sikh Temple on Saturday 26th July 2009 @ 5:30pm to 8:30pm All children below the age of 12 are invited to join in this specially organized celebrations for children and by children Highlights of Events 5:30pm Activities in the Darbar Sahib from Kirtan & Simran, Talks, Rehraas Sahib Paath and Ardas will be conducted by the children. 7pm Celebrations continue in the Langgar Hall with: • Best Sikh Bana Dress contest • Fun games for children • Goodies for all children • Special Meal • Special meals

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gurU duAwrY hoie soiJ pwiesI ] Renovation & Upgrading Central Sikh Temple

Award Tender in November 2009 Total Estimated Cost—$2.5 m Pledges as on 30th June 2009—$294,450

Bhai Maharaj Singh Temple

Please Make your

Donation or Pledge Call Sikh Centre Manager 6327 2005 or email: [email protected]

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Sikh Centre

Wadda Gurdwara

Silat Road Gurdwara

On Going Courses

Pooranmashi Saturday, 7th July, 6:45pm to 8:15pm

Sukhmani Sahib Every Saturday, 10:30am to 11:30am

Pooranmashi Saturday, 7th July 4:30pm – 9:00pm

Sangrand (Sawan) Friday, 16th July , 7:00am to 9:00am  

Learn Gurmukhi for Adults Every Sunday, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Weekly Simran Diwan Every Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Paath Class for Kids Every Saturday, 2pm to 2:45pm

Full Asa Di Vaar Kirtan Very first Sunday of the month 6:15 am onwards

Learn to Read Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Every Saturday, 12:30pm to 1:30pm Gurmat Sangeet Classes Tuesday - Sunday Tae-Kwon-Do (On Going) Every Saturday, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Mighty Khalsa 19th July, 2, 16 & 30 August Sunday, 10:30am to 12:00pm Sikhi for Toddlers 18th July, 1, 15 & 29 August 09 Saturday, 10am to 11am Creative Writing Every Sunday, 12pm to 1:30pm Fee: $ 50, 8 Session Phonics for Kids Every Sunday, 11am to 12pm, Fee: $ 35, 8 Sessions P1, P2 & P3 English / Math Every Sunday, 1.30pm to 3pm, Fee: $50, 8 Sessions P6 Math Class Every Saturday, 2pm to 4pm, Fee: $10, 8 Sessions O Level English Every Saturday, 2pm to 4pm Fee: $ 10, 8 Sessions Punjabi Tuition K1 & K2 Every Sunday, 4pm to 5pm, Fee: $30, 8 Sessions

Sikh Centre

Sangrand (Sawan) Friday, 16th July  6:00am – 8:00am Simran Sadhana Every Thursday, 6:00 am to 7:30 am & 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Sukhmani Sahib Every Sunday, 10am to 11am Barsi Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji Raag Darbar (Performance by Gurmat Sangeet Students) 26th July & 23rd August 2009, Sunday, 7pm to 8pm

Akhand Path Armabh - Friday 3 July, 8am Akhand Path Bhog - Sunday 5 July, 8am

New Members Central Sikh Gurdwara Board welcomes the following new members 1. Balbir Singh Paori Kalan 2. Gurcharan Singh 3. Karamjeet Singh Brar 4. Surinder Singh Kamalpura 5. Harnek Singh 6. Davinder Singh s/o Gurcharan Singh 7. Surinder Kaur

Book of the Month

NANAKIAN PHILOSOPHY BASICS FOR HUMANITY First few Chapters of this book prepare the minds of the readers how to understand Nanakian Philosophy and thereafter it discusses scientifically and logically the important questions often asked by the inquisitive minds. For example, concept of God, Origin of Universe, Laws of Nature, Life, Death, and Soul, food Fads, Science and Nanakian Philosophy are in consonance with the discovery of Current Science Age and have all the characteristics of universal acceptability. Movie of the Month

Mera Pind Mera Pind is the story of a well-to-do NRI Navjot Singh Sidhu who has chosen to settle in his native village and spread the message of empowerment and entrepreneurship amongst the village youth. Led by Himmat[Harbhajan Maan], the youth set off a revolution in development of the village. It inspires Punjabis who are increasingly opting to settle abroad, to undertake business in their home villages and cities. Mera Pind is also a story of a young man seeking his love, the only barrier being the girl’s father. It is the story of simple yet zealous men who drive greedy real estate agents away. It is the story of a Punjab that awakens to modernity and progress.

No. 9 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 169543. Tel: 6327 2007 Fax: 6327 2009 www.sikhs.org.sg [email protected]

Sunday, 5th July 2009 | Level 7, Sikh Centre | 2pm to 4pm

Counselling Hotline:

6270 1665 (available 24 hours)